Hopkins, Ernest Eames

916690 Private Ernest Eames Hopkins was born 2 July 1897 in Kent, England, son of William H., and Mary Hopkins 187 Fulton Ave Toronto.

He was working as a bookkeeper when, after serving six months in the militia with The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, he enlisted in the 198th Battalion on 15 April 1916.

From July 2, 1916 to October 1916 they trained at Camp Borden then returned to Toronto until February 23, 1917 when they left for St, John, New Brunswick. The battalion finally embarked at Halifax on 25 March 1917 and arrived in Liverpool 8 April 1917. They undertook still further training at Otterpool Camp, Witley, England before being disbanded and used as reinforcements for Battalion already at the front. Hopkins was transferred to the Canadian Infantry 20th Bn (Canadian Buffs).

He did of wounds from at “a gunshot to the head” at the 30th Casualty Clearing Station on 11 October 1918 at the age of 21. He is buried at Bucquoy Rd. Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, Grave Reference: IV. F. 14.

Private Hopkins’ Coin of Remembrance is carried by Corporal (Ret) Graham Jones who personally visited the grave in September 2012 (below).